Grand Passion

swirling around her. She tried to concentrate on Nolan's annoyed face. “What did you say about a great deal of money?”
    Nolan apparently decided that he finally had her full attention. He leaned forward intently. “A man named Garrison Spark came by my office today. He's looking for some very valuable paintings that he thinks may have been left here in Harmony Cove. He says that old guy who used to stay here at the inn was actually a very wealthy member of the Curzon family.”
    “I know.”
    “Spark says Curzon owned the paintings but that he had sold them to Spark just before he died.”
    Cleo stared. “Mr. Spark told you that Jason sold him the Luttrells?”
    Nolan leaned closer. “You know about them?”
    “I know that the Luttrells, if they're ever found, belong to Max, here.”
    Nolan's knuckles were white. His eyes narrowed. “The hell they do. Spark said Fortune might try to claim them, but he says Fortune has no proof of ownership.”
    “And Spark does?” Cleo asked.
    Nolan nodded quickly. “Spark can produce a bill of sale.”
    Max set a glass down very casually and picked up another. “Spark is very good at producing forgeries of all kinds.”
    Nolan ignored him. “Cleo, the paintings belong to Spark. What's more, he's got a client who will pay fifty thousand dollars for them. Spark says he'll pay a finder's fee if we can figure out where Curzon stashed the paintings.”
    “A finder's fee?” Cleo repeated. “You mean a commission?”
    “He'll go fifty-fifty.” Nolan was barely able to contain his excitement. “Whoever finds those paintings and turns them over to Spark will collect twenty-five thousand dollars. I could really use that kind of money for my campaign fund.”
    “I could use it to fix the plumbing here at the inn,” Cleo mused.
    Nolan's smile held a hint of satisfaction. “We'll split the twenty-five grand, Cleo. Deal?”
    “Afraid not,” Cleo said. “For openers, I have no idea where the paintings are.”
    “They've got to be around here somewhere,” Nolan insisted. “Spark is convinced that Curzon hid them here in Harmony Cove. He talked to someone at Cosmic Harmony first because he'd heard that Curzon was friends with some of the women there. But I know how much Curzon liked you.”
    “Jason was my friend.”
    “Right,” Nolan agreed swiftly. “And I'll bet that if he left those paintings anywhere, he left them here at the inn. Level with me. Do you know where they are?”
    “No.”
    “Are you sure? Because there's a lot of money involved here. I know how sentimental you are. You're the type who would hang on to those Luttrells just because they reminded you of an old friend. But they're too valuable to be kept around as mementos.”
    “I'm not keeping them around as mementos,” Cleo said patiently. “I have no idea where they are. And if they do turn up, Max has first claim to them.”
    “Not according to Garrison Spark.” Nolan shot Max a disgusted glance. “According to Spark, Fortune was just a professional gofer. He did odd jobs for Spark for a while. Then he quit without any notice to do odd jobs for Curzon International, where he apparently managed to ingratiate himself with Jason Curzon. He says Fortune is an opportunist who always has an eye out for the main chance.”
    “A man's got to make a living,” Max said.
    Cleo stirred uneasily on the bar stool. She was still feeling disoriented. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the key to the attic room glinting in the soft light. “Nolan, I don't know anything about the paintings. You're wasting your time.”
    “Okay, so maybe you don't know where they are,” Nolan said quickly. “But Spark thinks they're around here somewhere, either at the inn or at Cosmic Harmony. I propose we join forces to find them.”
    “Forget it,” Cleo said.
    “You heard the lady,” Max said.
    “Why don't you just shut up and tend bar?” Nolan muttered.
    Max's smile was dangerously benign. “If you don't want to talk business, I suppose we could go back to The Mirror . Did you notice the allusions and metaphors that permeate the book? The use of the scarlet ribbon was especially interesting. It creates both a threat and a bond. A brilliant commentary on the different ways in which men and women view sex and sensuality, don't you think?”
    “Goddammit, I've had enough of this.” Nolan got to his feet and turned to Cleo. “I'll talk to you some other time when he isn't around.”
    “I'm sorry.” Cleo